Veterans Connection 10/15/2026

Dear First Responders and Veterans,

In honor of America's 250th birthday and the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Centerbrook Church would like to invite you and your family to a special Veterans Day weekend service and Rib Fest on Sunday, November 8, 2026. We would like to honor you with a token of our appreciation and say, "Thank you for your service to our country and our communities."

The one-hour service begins at 10:30 a.m., and afterward, we invite you to stay as our guests and enjoy the best rib dinner you have ever had!

It is our privilege to serve you and say thanks in this way. Please RSVP with your name and the number attending by Monday, November 2, by calling (937) 848- 4390 and leaving a message or by emailing centerbrookgeneral@gmail.com.

We look forward to hearing from you, seeing you here, and celebrating and thanking you in this way.

May you be blessed as you have blessed us.

Sincerely,

Pastor Joe Horner

Get ready for an exciting kickoff to the college basketball season! Wright State University and Big Hoopla—with support from CareSource—have announced the return of the Stars, Stripes and Flight Classic men's basketball game.

Event Highlights:

• The Matchup: The defending Horizon League Champions, the Wright State Raiders, will go head-to-head against the Air Force Falcons on November 2 at the Nutter Center.
• Honoring Military Service: Beyond an exciting night of basketball, the event serves to honor active-duty military members, veterans, and the U.S. Air Force, celebrating Wright State's deep-rooted connection to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
• Big Hoopla Kickoff: This high-profile matchup also serves as a kickoff event for Big Hoopla, building early community excitement for the upcoming NCAA First Four games in Dayton.
• Free Veteran Admission: General admission tickets are available for just $8, but veterans and active military can attend this event for free with the ticket code THANKYOU26

Whether you're a die-hard Raiders fan or looking to support our military community, it promises to be an unforgettable night of community and college sports.

Veterans Day will be held next month on November 11th, but did you know that for a brief period it was celebrated in October?

Originally established as Armistice Day, November 11th carries profound historical weight as the date marking the cessation of hostilities in World War I, which officially took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Decades later, following World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress officially amended the holiday in 1954 at the urging of veterans service organizations, changing its name to Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.

However, that deep historical connection was nearly scrambled in the late 20th century. Back in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act with the intention of giving federal employees more three-day weekends and boosting economic activity. As part of this legislation, the observance of Veterans Day was ripped from its historic November roots and relocated to the fourth Monday in October.

The first October Veterans Day was observed on October 25, 1971, and it was met with widespread confusion and frustration. Numerous states disagreed with the shift and chose to keep celebrating on November 11, while veterans' organizations heavily lobbied to restore the holiday's true significance. Recognizing the overwhelming public and institutional pushback, President Gerald Ford signed a law in 1975 returning Veterans Day to its original calendar home beginning in 1978.

So what do you think? Would you prefer an always-Monday Veterans Day in October or November 11 on Armistice Day?

Ever experienced the CLEAR lanes at the airport? Passengers with pre-clearance can skip the long TSA lines and head straight for gate, just walking through as biometric data identifies them as cleared. Now, that same friction-free technology is coming to the digital front door of veterans' healthcare and benefits.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected CLEAR for a new pilot initiative aimed at modernizing how veterans sign in and access their online benefits on VA.gov.

What the CLEAR Integration Means for Veterans:

• Fast and Frictionless Access: Veterans can choose CLEAR as a free, optional sign-in method on VA.gov, allowing them to verify their identity with a government-issued ID and a quick cell phone selfie.
• In-Person Setup Support: As part of the rollout, CLEAR pods and on-site staff are being deployed at select VA medical centers across the country to help veterans set up or verify their accounts in minutes.
• Privacy and Security Controls: The VA emphasizes that personal health information stays strictly with the VA. CLEAR does not access or receive health data, nor does it sell biometric or sensitive personal information.
• Combating Fraud: The partnership is designed to secure accounts, combat identity fraud, and ensure that benefits reach the right individuals efficiently.

Using CLEAR is entirely optional, and veterans can continue using their existing login methods if they prefer.

Getting your county veteran ID card and connecting with local resources is getting easier this fall, thanks to ongoing mobile outreach from Montgomery County.

The Montgomery County Recorders Office continues its mobile ID card sessions, giving local veterans a convenient way to secure identification used for local business discounts and county benefits. Upcoming mobile stops include:

• October 23, 2026 (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM) at VFW Post 7741 (7921 N. Main St., Dayton)
• November 23, 2026 (4:30 PM – 6:30 PM) at the Trotwood Branch Library (855 E. Main St., Trotwood)
• December 5, 2026 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM) with the Friends of Perry Township (3025 Johnsville-Brookville Rd., Brookville)

Need a replacement card or help with your DD-214? If you need a replacement due to an expiration, address change, or wear-and-tear—or if you need assistance tracking down your DD-214—reach out directly to the Montgomery County Veterans Services office at (937) 225-4801 to schedule an appointment or get guidance from local service officers.